METHOD FOR ENVELOPING A RING-LIKE SUPPORT FOR CARDIAC VALVE PROSTHESIS

摘要

PCT No. PCT/EP92/01018 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 14, 1994 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 14, 1994 PCT Filed May 8, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO92/19185 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 12, 1992.An elastic textile covering is applied over an annular support of a heart valve prosthesis by inserting the preferably collar shaped textile covering through the annular support, turning two projecting axial ends of the textile covering over the outer surface of the annular support and then joining the two axial ends to each other to form a seam that preferably extends entirely around an outer periphery of the annular support. This seam can be concealed by a collar, which also may be covered by the textile covering. An apparatus for applying the textile covering to the annular support includes two coaxial annular rings into which the annular support and textile covering are inserted. Each of the rings includes structure for attachment to a respective axial end of the textile covering.